(Image Credits: Instagram)
In an exclusive interview with the Times of India, renowned fashion designers Shantnu and Nikhil shared their views on how bridal couture in India has changed, revealed great insights about their latest collection ‘Becoming’, and talked about the dynamics of how grooms can put their outfits together in a unique way. When it comes to fashion choices for weddings in India, there are now some changes in the current scenario. Indian weddings are more than just about lehengas and sherwanis. They are now looking for garments that coincide with their lifestyle rather than being satisfied with the traditional customs. Shantnu & Nikhil: For over two decades, we have rewritten the codes of menswear. The man wore drapes when menswear demanded structure, challenging the rigidity of ceremonial dressing. In parallel, our womenswear has evolved through sculpted forms, sensuality, and dramatic proportions. With Becoming, we found ourselves looking at the bride differently. The Shantnu Nikhil bride is romantically fierce, never fragile. She carries the warmth of her traditions but also a fire and certainty of her own. We wanted that character to come through. in the silhouettes, from our signature corsetry and elaborate bridal lehengas to intricate hand embroidery and dramatic veils. There is the grandeur of an Indian wedding, but also a very distinct woman at the centre of it all, and this time, we meet her. (Image Credits: Instagram)
The couples today have a different outlook when it comes to choosing their dresses for the grand festivities.
She brings hers. He brings his. Another family, another history, sometimes another culture. It is one of those rare occasions where you can see where you come from and where you are going at the same time. The new-age Indian bride carries her mother’s wedding photographs, her father’s stories, and the memories of celebrations she has grown up with. When it is finally her turn, she wants some of it too, just not necessarily in the same way. Becoming is about that choice. She isn’t leaving her heritage behind, nor is she simply recreating it. She is taking what she loves and making it her own. That is really where From Theirs to Yours comes from. Shantnu & Nikhil: Tradition is not abandoned but edited. For twenty-five years, our design philosophy has been rooted in questioning conventions while remaining deeply connected to Indian culture. With Becoming, we bring that same perspective to the new-age Indian bride, revisiting the familiar codes of bridal couture through our own design language. The collection moves from ceremonial ivories, blush, and mint to the grandeur of traditional reds and deeper jewel tones. Elaborate lehengas meet sculpted corsetry, sensual necklines, and intricate hand embroidery, while dramatic veils bring a sense of romance to the silhouettes. At its heart remains the splendour of Indian craftsmanship, interpreted through the signature codes of Shantnu Nikhil couture. (Image Credits: Instagram) Shantnu & Nikhil: Soft masculinity has been an integral part of our design philosophy for over two decades. We have always believed in looking beyond conventional definitions of masculine dressing, bringing together sharp tailoring, fluid silhouettes, and the grandeur of Indian craftsmanship. From draped kurtas and structured bandhgalas to elaborate sherwanis and embellished tuxedos, this philosophy has shaped our approach to menswear. The new-age Indian groom is exploring different silhouettes, cultural influences, and ways of dressing for the many celebrations surrounding his wedding. With Becoming, we bring both these worlds together. Veils beside safes, lehengas beside tuxedos. Each has its own character, yet together they reflect the shared spirit of a wedding that belongs to both of them. Shantnu & Nikhil: The Indian wedding has always celebrated the bride with a certain grandeur, and that remains an important part of its cultural identity. What is evolving is the way the groom finds his own expression within that celebration. With Becoming, we wanted to bring both perspectives into the same frame. The romance of an elaborate bridal lehenga alongside the sharpness of a tailored tuxedo, a dramatic veil beside a traditional safa. There is a distinct design language for each, yet they belong to the same story. For us, it is about celebrating two people, their individual identities, and the traditions they bring into a wedding that becomes their own. (Image Credits: Instagram) Shantnu & Nikhil: For twenty-five years, our approach to couture has been shaped by sharp tailoring, signature drapery, corsetry, and a willingness to question the conventions of occasion dressing. our womenswear has evolved through sensuality, dramatic proportions, and intricate craftsmanship While our menswear has explored soft masculinity through fluid silhouettes and structured forms. With Becoming, these elements find a new expression in bridal couture. Bridal lehengas with Baroque-inspired embroidery, intricate hand ornamentation, sculpted corsetry, and dramatic veils bring together the many facets of our aesthetic, with a particular emphasis on the lehenga as the cornerstone of the collection, alongside gowns, bandhgalas, sherwanis, and tuxedos. For us, Becoming marks a defining moment for the Shantnu Nikhil bride. She has always been part of our journey, but this collection gives her a more distinct presence. She carries the traditions she has inherited, while bringing her own personality, strength, and sense of self to the way she chooses to celebrate. You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test Get the latest Lifestyle News and more. Download the TOI app.
Shantnu & Nikhil: With Becoming, we dress the wedding as it unfolds today. A wedding today rarely carries only one inheritance. Today, we see more men embracing this sensibility as a form of self-expression.
